Puerto Rico Relief — How to Help Locally

What a season this has been for natural disasters. The way things stand now, we have people who are still reeling from the effects of hurricanes this season, and now Puerto Rico has been pounded by Hurricane Maria.

In response to the situation, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has announced that there will be a statewide effort to help hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. Edwards says that, through this statewide plan, supplies will be collected to help out the Puerto Rican victims of Maria and Irma.

The program will continue until October, then the collected items will be flown to Puerto Rico for distribution. While all sorts of items are needed, there are some specific items that are in very short supply. The biggest needs are supplies for babies and feminine hygiene products.

Donation collections will be taken from now until October 10th.

Here are the items most in need:

-New Baby Bottles with Nipples/Bottles with Liners
-New Sippy Cups
-Diaper Cream
-Infant Formula (powder only) (no liquids please)
-Wipes
-Feminine Hygiene products (tampons/pads/panty liners)

Here are the drop-off locations for donations:

ALLEN

8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday

• 808 2nd Avenue Kinder
•  1421 Ward Road, Oakdale
•  2495 Turner Road, Elizabeth
•  313 Ford Street, Reeves

BEAUREGARD

8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday

•  412 Bolivar Bishop Dr., DeRidder
•  200 South Jefferson St., DeRidder

CALCASIEU

8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

• Catholic Charities of SWLA - 1225 2nd Street, Lake Charles

CAMERON

6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday

• Grand Lake Parish Barn - 10090 Gulf Highway

JEFF DAVIS

9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday

• 506 Roberts Ave., Jennings

VERNON

9 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., Wednesday-Friday

• 518 South 3rd St., Leesville

No liquids, clothes, food items, water, or monetary donations will be accepted.